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Joel RQbert had no problem in winning two more Feature Matos.
They left. Riders left too, and at one
time there were as many riders at the
sign-up table getting their money back
as ones signing in. Tbe AMA had sent
out no printed matter on it and a lot of
guys all of a sudden found out they
were being hit with baving to buy a
professional license on tbe spot, this
after already baving had an accepted
entry. Having to buy a mechanic's
license set off some more troubles and
the howls got even louder. After they
had paid this to accompany their riders
into the pits, someone started selling
John Banks leads Billy Clements (22) and Keith Hickman through a Saddleback turn.
Pettersson took second overall.
legitimate pit passes to the general
public for a dollar!
Tbere were several beavyweigbt
machines lined up in the Junior class
which was supposed to be for 250's
only, and... oh well...it was one of those
days I guess. Tbe officials were trying,
referee Chub Kellam's riders meeting
was very clearly put but tbe poor man
must have throat t ouble today, had no
bullhorn provided and had to yell at the
top of bis lungs.
For all the bad and stupid things that
happened for the day tbere was one
great thing. The circuit was excellent
although the late start had tended to
dry out more water from the ground
than necessary and in section there were
a few too many loose rocks but on the
whole the circuit was the best we've
ever seen it.
Speaking of loose rocks. it caused
several riders problems, which is one
reason many of the Europeans went to
the wars wi th mou th and chest shields
on. Bob Bailey got a big one in the
chops and young Bob Messer on a Maico
in the support class got onc in the
mid-section. Holding down third place,
Messer really got the wind knocked out
of hjrn and was forced to sit by the trail
and breathe deep for over a lap.
The support class developed into a
battle betweeu Gunnar Nilsson (I-Ius)
and Jim Cooke (C-Z) along with Tom
Rapp (Bul) and of course Messer until
he got his lumps. In the second round
Nilsson and Cooke really sized off and
several times Cooke passed the flying
Swede, with Trom Rapp coming in for'
third. Doug Grant on a C-Z ended
fourth followed by Bultaco rider Steve
Ellsworth.
Next wc"ek, the action moves to
Carlsbad.
Just keep your fingers crossed. If the
diffiuclties can be worked out. there's a
chance that we'll get to see the big boys
of both the Inter-Am and the
Trans-AMA series size off against each
other on Dec. 6 at Saddleback... Then
we'd really get to see some racing!
(Results on page 26)
